How can we support fellow believers facing challenges as "lambs among wolves"? The Picture Jesus Paints “Go! Behold, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” (Luke 10:3) Jesus does not soften the reality. His followers enter a hostile world—gentle, vulnerable lambs surrounded by predatory wolves. Yet He still sends us, trusting His power and presence to keep us and work through us. Our call is to help one another walk faithfully in that setting. Why Our Support Matters • Galatians 6:2 — “Carry one another’s burdens.” • Hebrews 10:24-25 — “Encourage one another… all the more as you see the Day approaching.” • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 — God comforts us so we can comfort others. When pressure rises, believers thrive or falter largely in response to the care they receive from fellow saints. Practical Ways to Stand With Each Other • Be Present and Attentive – Show up: phone call, visit, text. Presence speaks louder than advice (Romans 12:15). – Listen before speaking; wolves love isolation, but fellowship breaks their grip. • Speak Truth, Not Platitudes – Remind one another of the Shepherd’s promises (John 10:27-29). – Share Scriptures that fortify faith: John 15:18-20; 1 Peter 5:8-9. • Pray Relentlessly – Ephesians 6:18 calls us to pray “with all perseverance… for all the saints.” – Pray aloud together, anchoring requests in the Word. • Encourage Shrewd Innocence – Matthew 10:16 pairs lamb-like innocence with serpent-like wisdom. – Help each other think strategically: know the environment, avoid unnecessary danger, maintain integrity. • Meet Tangible Needs – Food, finances, child care, transportation; wolves often attack through scarcity and stress (Acts 2:44-45). – Small acts of service communicate the Shepherd’s care. • Guard Each Other’s Reputations – Refuse gossip; speak well of absent brothers and sisters (Proverbs 27:10). – Step in when slander surfaces. • Sharpen One Another – “As iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17), gently correct error, celebrate obedience, stir up boldness. • Provide Safe Refuge – Open your home for worship, study, rest. – Create circles where vulnerability is welcomed and confidentiality honored. • Keep the Long View in Sight – Remind each other that temporary sufferings “are achieving for us an eternal glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). – Celebrate testimonies of past deliverance to fuel present courage. Staying Alert Together • Identify the Wolves – False teaching (Acts 20:29-30) – Cultural pressures to compromise truth – Personal temptations that exploit weakness • Stand United – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 — “Encourage and build one another up.” – Unity denies wolves the chance to pick off stragglers. Anchored in the Shepherd Ultimately, support flows from remembering whose lambs we are. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). He sends us, guides us, and will bring every one of His sheep safely home. Together we echo David’s confidence, strengthening one another until the Chief Shepherd appears (1 Peter 5:4). |
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